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St
Helens Sutton Athletic Club
September 2003 News
Club Championships.
The Committee has agreed that the club cross country championships will be
scored using the same system for all age groups with effect from this
season. A full list of relevant men's and women's fixtures will be put on
the notice board in the near future. The unofficial ladies' road race
championships will not be held this season but athletes are encouraged to
compete in the designated winter races to ensure maximum turn out for the
club.
Club Colours:
The Committee has determined that members wishing to represent the club in
championships are expected to purchase a club vest. Vests which have been
used but no long fit can be exchanged. Members who have not yet returned
vests borrowed at the Cheshire League match at Eccles should do so as soon
as possible.
Road Race:
Pam Appleton's road race entry form was approved and will be circulated at
road races throughout the winter. Next year's event, scheduled for 14 March,
will include a Fun Run in addition to the men's and women's races. Janet
Holmes is the race secretary.
Christmas Handicap:
Paul Davenport has obtained sponsorship of £60 from his employers for the
prizes at the Christmas Handicap. Full details will be provided as soon as
possible.
Young Athletes Presentation:
The Young Athlete's Presentation evening has been schedule for Friday 31
January 2004 at Penlake Social Club. Tickets (£2.50) are available from
Julia Hayes. Book early.
Safety:
The Committee advises all members of the importance of wearing reflective
gear and is currently pricing armbands for members to purchase.
Administration:
To reduce administration costs reminders will not be issued for the payment
of race entry fees. This is particularly important during the pre-Christmas
period when requests will be made in quick succession for the Merseyside,
Northern and National Cross Country Championships and all members are urged
to make payment immediately upon receipt of request for payment.
The Merseyside event is in Huyton, the Northern at Sherdley Park and the
National at Leeds so a good turnout is looked for.
Events:
We have additional offers of help to assist with the staging of the St
Helens' Primary Schools Sports Hall Championships on Saturday 11 October and the 1 November.
Amongst those who are available to help
are Denis Fulton, Paul Davenport and Nicola Quinn.
Representative Meetings:
The club will be represented at the North of England AGM on 11 October and
the Northern League AGM's on 8 November. The former will be discussing
proposals to raise the levy from £1 to £3 (which the club is opposing) and
the latter will consider integrating senior men's and women's teams as
single unifed clubs (which we are supporting).
Sports Hall Team Management:
Roseanne Hutchinson will succeed Julia Hayes as Sports Hall League team
manager during the season. Both ladies are attending this weekend's first
match at Widnes which starts at 12 noon prompt. Joe Ehlen will be offering
active assistance
and is helping to organise transport and teams for the second match at Crewe
in November.
New Coaching Personnel
The club has two new Level 1 coaches. Pauline Picton and Ian White both
successfully completed the course organised at Sutton last weekend and
neither could walk on Monday!! Pauline has expressed an interest in working
with youngsters while Ian has been an athlete for over 20 years and involved
in coaching middle distance for several. In addition, John Naylor has been
looking after the younger sprinters. John is a current Level 3 coach.
Roseanne Hutchinson, Joe Ehlen, Sue Lowrie and Laura Davenport have all
completed the core element of Level 2 and will be taking their specific
subjects in January, in addition to the new stand alone Children in
Athletics module in November.
Child Protection:
St Helens MBC is holding a Child Protection Course on Wednesday 19 November,
6p.m. - 9.p.m. It is the club's policy for all qualified coaches to take
child protection courses as soon as practical after qualification. Any
coaches wishing to take this opportunity to take this free course should
contact Phil Thomas as soon as possible.
Pole Vault Training
The first phase of the winter training programme has begun with Emma
McClatchey and Nicola Quinn attending pole vault coaching sessions at
Liverpool under the guidance of specialist coach Robbie McKenna with Joe
Ehlen, Paul Davenport and Phil Thomas in attendance. This will be continued
on a weekly basis, include other interested athletes during the winter and
extended to include drills conducted at Sutton by Joe and Paul as part of
the winter schedule for jumpers, hurdlers and sprinters being conducted
under the auspices of Dave Morley. Any athletes who are interested in pole
vaulting should contact Paul or Joe in the first instance.
Annual General Meeting: Bull & Dog 3 September.
A well attended AGM started at 7.30.p.m.with a minute's silence in memory of
Rebecca Clague. It was presided over by Billy McMinnis, aged 88, who joined
the club in 1936 and won his first medal at Christmas of that year. Billy
was a member of the Sutton Harriers team which won the National Cross Country
title four years out of five after the second world war. His interest in the
club, in particular the development of new generations of athletes remains
undiminished.
John Irwin reported a healthy financial year with monies coming from many
sources including a very successful presentation evening for young athletes,
a track meeting at Warrington, grants, the road races and other souces. The
accounts are available to all members on request.
Phil Thomas was elected chairman, John Irwin Treasurer and Julia Hayes
Secretary.Sue Lowrie, Janet Holmes, Ray Vose and Barry Graney were elected
to the various captaincy positions. Lisa Bluett, Denis Fulton, Paul
Davenport, Pam Appleton, Dave Morley and Sue Clague were elected to the
Committee.
The Athlete of the Year Awards for Senior Men and Senior Women's
Competitions were won by Ben Fisher and Julia Eccleston respectively.The
other trophies were award as follows:
Senior Ladies Track and Field :
| 1 | | Lucy Mitchell |
| 2 | | Diane Appleton |
| 3 | | Caroline Morley |
Senior Men's Track and Field :
| 1 | | Ray Vose |
| 2 | | Ben Fisher |
| 3 | | Jon Calder |
Senior Women's Cross Country
| 1 | | Julia Eccleston |
| 2 | | Pam Appleton |
| 3 | | Cecilia Fitzsimons |
Senior Men's Cross Country
| 1 | | Barry Graney |
| 2 | | Ray Vose |
| 3 | | Barry Cunliffe |
Senior Women's Road Race Championship:
| Champion | | Julia Eccleston |
| Best Newcomer | | Claire Newing |
The Bill McMinnis Special Award:
Dave Forrester
The Most Improved Athlete award has been held over until Ray Vose returns
from his trip to the United States.
After the chairman gave a brief summary of the year's progress a full
discussion of all relevant points took place. The final item was the
election of Trevor Prescott to life membership of the club. Trevor recently
returned to competition in the Capenhurst 5k, finishing as the first Over
70. A member of Sutton Harriers in the 1950's and 1960's Trevor later moved
to Chester but always maintained his links with Sutton. When he moved back
to St Helens he acted as a club coach and still writes the reports for the
local papers.His election to life membership was unanimous.
The meeting closed at 8.15 p.m and was followed by informal discussion and
socialising which was enjoyed by all. The next Committee meeting will be
held on Thursday 25 September at 8.30.p.m.
Sports Hall Training: 30 September
Indoor Sports Hall training begins on Tuesday 30 September under the
guidance of Roseanne Hutchinson, Frank Atkinson, Joe Ehlen, Dave Green and
others. Sports Hall competition starts on 28 September with a double header
at Kingsway Sports Centre, Widnes. The full list of Sports Hall matches for
the 2003-2004 season is now on the website and a letter has gone out to all
parents and children. Please see notice board for full details of events or
contact Julia Hayes (608504).
St Helens Primary Schools Sports Hall Meetings:
The club has taken on full responsibility for staging the preliminary and
final matches for the above events. The preliminary event takes place on
Saturday 11 October and the finals on 1 November. Volunteers to date
include John Irwin, Julia Hayes, Dave Morley, Joe Ehlen, Frank Atkinson,
Chris Dempsey, Sue Lowrie, Janet Holmes, Sue Clague, Denis Fulton and Pam
Appleton. In addition, some of the older female athletes will also be
assisting in their indefatigable way.
Disco For All : 19 September.
There will be an evening's entertainment at Penlake Social Club on Friday 19
September when, for the meagre cost of £1.50, adults and children can enjoy
a convivial time for the entire evening, relaxing before the Merseyside Road
Relays the following day. This is a good way to increase club funds and enjoy
yourself at the same time. Buy your tickets from Julia Hayes or John Irwin
as soon as possible.
News From Committee:
The Committee proposed and passed a motion of thanks to Ray Vose for his
outstanding chairmanship during the past 12 months. Ray has seen the club
develop into a single unit dedicated to the development of individual
athletes and the club as a whole and, on his return from his North American
trip, will be resuming his outstanding work with our middle distance
runners. While over in the U.S.A. Ray is hoping to meet up with Neil Smart,
now living in California. Neil won several steeplechase titles as a member
of Sutton Harriers. His sister, Sue Crehan, another Sutton Harriers member,
represented the Great Britain in the marathon at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Historical Project:
Phil Thomas has been granted access to 40 years' worth of Athletics Weekly
and is currently compiling St Helens-Sutton's results from 1990 onwards as
recorded in the pages of AW. These will be archived on the website on a
month by month basis during the coming year. Any members who have results
sheets or their own records of performances are invited to let Phil borrow
them in order to establish as full a record as possible of the club and its
predecessors history. Thanks in this respect are already due to Tony Raffle for his invaluable assistance.
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